KUALA LUMPUR: For participants of the National Service Training Programme (PLKN), firing a gun is not just another training drill – it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The National Service Training Department describes it as an opportunity few will ever get in everyday life.
Its director Mejar-Jen Datuk Ya’cob Samiran, when met at the Sungai Besi military camp yesterday, said that firearms training is a part of the PLKN curriculum that all participants undergo during their time in the programme.
“They are trained in firearm handling and operation as a module of basic military training. We use the M16 rifle, the same weapon employed in the preliminary training of the Territorial Army,” he said.
Easy does it: Mejar-Jen Ya’cob guiding a PLKN trainee during the firearms shooting exercise at Kem Perdana Sungai Besi in Kuala Lumpur. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
For worried parents, Mejar-Jen Ya’cob offered firm reassurance: safety is paramount.
“Strict procedures are in place. The recruits are trained properly and are never left on their own.
“It is a controlled environment, and unless they enlist in enforcement agencies, this may be an experience they will never have again,” he said.
Regarding retention rates in the trial batch, Mejar-Jen Ya’cob noted that some participants had withdrawn due to medical reasons to prevent further injuries during training.
“The programme has proceeded smoothly, God willing. So far, around five recruits have pulled out due to medical issues,” he said.
When asked whether employers are required to release employees selected for the programme, he explained that a deferment must be requested in case of conflicts.
“This includes those who are working. They will need permission from their employers, who must provide justification if they are unable to release them to join the training programme,” he said.
